No sonnet today. Tonight—we dance!

Sonnets return January 22nd

There was no sonnet today, in lieu of the Monday holiday.  However, I want to write up a quick post and share some material that might be interesting to readers.

I’ve been reading Plato, which means I’ve been thinking about form.  Accepting most of Plato’s ideas is first to accept that there exists an absolute reality where Form is perpetual—absolute Beauty, absolute Good, absolute Triangle are in their truths.  In the material universe, we merely get the shadow of these Forms.  If you accept that first leap, then much of what Plato writes is pretty good: I can see why his writings are a blueprint for Christian doctrine.  However, I have a hard time accepting that first leap.  I would certainly love to see examples of it.

I’ve written about one. And it happens that today that poem has been published in the Penmen Reivew. 

“Four Octaves for Cyd Charisse” is a thought study about this midcentury Hollywood dancer. Although she partnered with the two legends of the silver screen (that is, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire) she certainly doesn’t get her share of the spotlight¹.  I thought for her credit, she could have a poem written for her.

The poem begins with an image taken from the “Broadway Melody” ballet from Singing in the Rain (1952). I’ve posted that as a primer for Charisse. Next stop would be her “Dancing in the Dark” number with Fred Astaire.

1. She’s not alone. Let history remember the tap lessons Astaire took from John Sublett (a.k.a. John Bubbles, the father of rhythm tap, and subject matter of another sonnet), as well as Ginger Rogers’ famous “backwards and in heels” retort.